Minerva Laveaga, Executive Director of BorderSenses non-profit literary organization, and Lacy Mayberry, Workshop Facilitator, report on the new community project, ForWord, which offers creative writing workshops for young authors.

ForWord literary project for ages 13-19
Saturdays: EPCC Northwest Campus Library 10am - 12pm
Saturdays: Glasbox Studios 11am - 1pm
Mondays: Jefferson High School 4pm - 6pm
forword.bordersenses.com, (915) 485-7981

Andy Moran, Music Director and General Manager of the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestra and Resident Conductor of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, shares great news about an NEA grant for the Youth Orchestra and previews their upcoming Winter Concert.

EPSYO annual Winter Concert “Romantic Virtuosity” - Romantic Era favorites
Featuring cellist Michael Way
Sunday, February 10, 5pm
Abraham Chavez Theater
epsyo.org, (915) 525-5978

Vice President Joe Biden says the United States is ready to hold direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program — provided that the country's top leader is serious about such discussions.

The White House has released proof that President Obama really did shoot skeet — at least once — at the Maryland presidential retreat, last summer.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency says an extremely strong earthquake rattled the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido on Saturday. The magnitude was 6.4. The U.S. Geological Survey's report puts the tremor at a higher magnitude of 6.9; the epicenter was very deep, about 65 miles below ground, near the city of Obihiro. That's about 120 miles east of Hokkaido's largest city, Sapporo.

"An early spring for you and me," is this year's prediction from Punxsutawney Phil, the premiere Groundhog Day forecaster.

With an estimated 35,000 spectators watching him Saturday morning, the groundhog — or as he is known to his followers, "the seer of seers" — did not see his shadow.

The security situation in Northern Mali has improved with the arrival of the French military last month, so French president Francois Hollande traveled there Saturday for a one-day visit. He didn't stay in the southern capital, Bamako, which has remained under Malian government control, but instead flew north to the ancient city of Timbuktu to meet residents and thank French troops for their work in ousting Islamist rebels from the historic city.

Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week: